Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Horden Gardens
Dogs sniff, cats pounce and rabbits sit in the open, so a wasp nest affects pets in ways that people do not always think about.
A garden through a pet’s eyes
People tend to check the garden for wasps with their own height and habits in mind. A dog uses its nose, goes into borders and noses into holes. A cat jumps onto walls, slips into sheds and investigates gaps. Rabbits and guinea pigs live in hutches or runs that are kept outdoors all year.
Each of these habits can bring a pet into contact with a nest. An animal that is stung may react strongly, and an animal that is interested in a nest may trigger an attack on the whole household.
If you found an old nest last year, it is gone and will not be reused, but the site may attract a new queen. A little attention in spring protects your pets as well as your family.
Birds are also at risk if you keep aviaries or feeders, and a nest near a bird table can affect them. Consider where your animals spend most of their time, and check those areas first.
Dogs
Dogs are the commonest victims of ground nests. A dog sniffing a hole in the lawn or a bank may be stung around the face and nose. The injury is painful and can swell quickly.
- Walk the garden before letting the dog out in spring
- Look for holes with traffic, especially on banks and borders
- Keep the dog on a lead if you have found a nest
- Stop play near hedges and walls if wasps are about
- Call the vet for advice if your dog is stung, particularly around the mouth or face
Do not try to treat stings yourself. A vet can say what is appropriate for your animal.
After a sting, watch the animal for the rest of the day. Swelling around the face, difficulty breathing, vomiting or collapse need a vet urgently. If you are in any doubt, phone your vet, who can advise over the phone.
Cats
Cats are agile and secretive. They investigate sheds, garages and gaps, and they can be the first to disturb a nest in a loft or outbuilding. They also chase wasps, which is risky.
Keep sheds and outbuildings closed, and check them before the cat settles in for the day. If you suspect a nest, keep your cat indoors until it is dealt with. Remember that cats go to neighbours’ gardens too, so a word to people next door is sensible.
If your cat is used to the shed as a place to sleep, put a note on the door and block the cat flap until the nest has been dealt with, so it does not wander in.
Garden sheds where cat food or pet supplies are stored can have a particular appeal to wasps, since bags and tins are often stacked in the corners. Keep them in closed containers.
Hutches, runs and aviaries
Small animals cannot escape. A wasp nest close to a hutch or run is a risk, and wasps can be drawn to sweet foods. Keep feed in sealed containers, and clear spilled food promptly.
Move hutches away from walls, hedges and sheds if you have had a nest nearby. Check the underside of the hutch, the roof and the gap between the hutch and the wall. If you find a nest, keep the animals away from the area, and do not try to move the hutch near the nest.
For animals that live outdoors, plan an alternative position for a short time if a nest is found, and move them calmly, wearing gloves, from a safe distance.
A pet carrier, a kennel or a bed left in the garden over winter can hold a sleeping queen. Shake out blankets and check beneath them in spring before bringing them indoors.
Think too about wild visitors. Hedgehogs, foxes and birds that use the garden at night can disturb a hole or a hollow, and a nest that has been damaged by an animal is more likely to defend itself. Keep your pets away from such places in daylight, and tell the family not to investigate unusual holes.
Food bowls and water
Outdoor food and drink attract wasps in late summer. A dog’s dish with leftover food, a cat’s bowl on the patio and a bird feeder with sugary food all do the job. Feed pets indoors if wasps are about, or pick up bowls as soon as the animals have finished.
Water bowls are less of an issue, but a sweetened drink left out can attract wasps.
Keep treats and chews off the patio table, as they are as attractive to wasps as to pets.
If your dog tends to dig, check the lawn and borders for new holes each week during the growing season, and fill them in when you find them, as long as there is no traffic.
Getting help
When you have a nest, keep your pets away and contact us. Treating a nest is a fixed £120 per nest, and a second nest on the same property is £60 extra, with no call-out charge. Everyone who visits is fully insured and qualified, and you are promised one visit guaranteed.
Ring 01622 410 019 or use the contact page at /contact-us/. We cover Horden and nearby villages seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments. Tell us about any animals at the property when you book.
Tell us if there are animals in an outbuilding or run near the nest, as it may affect access and timing.
Keep dogs on a lead and cats indoors on the day of the visit, so that the technician can work without interruption.
Wasps on your property in Horden?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.